Create-Your-Own Cake at Duff's Cakemix Tomorrow

Grid View

• Cakemix interior
• Cakemix merchandise
• Jars and jars of sprinkles
• Ready-to-pipe frosting
• Unadorned cakes on display
• The counter at Cakemix
• Fondant roller
• Kids' table
• Cakemix Exterior
• Charm City Cakes West interior, as viewed from inside Cakemix.
• Charm City Cakes exterior

The corner of Melrose and Sweetzer just got a lot sweeter. Team Duff Goldman has been insisting that Charm City Cakes West would be exactly like the East Coast original — custom, made-to-order creations only. There would be no counter or pastry case full of pre-decorated cakes to taste. But then we heard from the construction crew that a retail bakery was part of the plan. Et voilà, here's a first look inside Cakemix, a magical mélange of a traditional bakery and Charm City Cakes.

At Cakemix's counter, in front of the mac register, there's a tray of tiny bottles filled with gel food coloring. Glass jars of sprinkles in all sizes, shapes and colors wait nearby, next to a small carousel containing bags of already colored icing, ready to pipe. There are a few unadorned cakes on display, begging for decoration, but more will be put out in the next couple of days. Above the counter is a menu and while it's not yet complete, the concept is as the Los Angeles Times described: like a Build-a-Bear, but for cakes.

Most of the inside of Cakemix looks like a brightly lit craft room. There are lots of long tables covered in parchment paper next to blue schoolroom chairs. A few seats near the front of the shop are for patrons that might just want to grab a slice of cake to eat with an espresso, because that's going to be available too.

On the Melrose side of the shop, a small enclosed glass stage is set, with a cake turntable, presumably for live cake decorating shows. On the Sweetzer side, along the glass, are shelves and shelves of Duff branded merchandise: sprinkles, gum paste, sugar decorations, candles and t-shirts. Though Cakemix has taken the paper off its windows and turned on its espresso machine, CEO Richard Drapkin (BLD, Grace) doesn't expect to start serving or selling until tomorrow.
·Customize Your Own Cake at Duff Goldman's Cakemix [~ELA~]
·'Ace' Duff Goldman opens do-it-yourself Cakemix [LAT]
·Duff Goldman's Charm City Cakes Build-Out on Melrose [~ELA~]